ala

ala

1. (international standards) ISO 639-3 language code for Alago.

• Wiktionary’s coverage of Alago terms

Originated from 1730–40, borrowed from Latin āla (“wing”). Doublet of aisle.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈeɪ.lə/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪlə

ala (plural alae or alæ)

1. (anatomy) A wing or winglike anatomic process or part, especially of bone.
2. (botany) The flattened border of some stems, fruits, and seeds, or one of the two side petals of certain flowers in the pea family.
3. (architecture) In ancient Rome, a small room opening into a larger room or courtyard.

Borrowed from French à la, by way of its English derivation a la.

ala

1. (colloquial) Alternative form of a la.
   • 2006, WorstPreviews.com‎^[7], archived from the original on 7 June 2020:

     The film is told in reverse ala Memento.

   • 2008 November 14, admin, “Quantum of Solace”, in Film Threat‎^[8]:

     […] interactive plasma screens with flashing digits and what not, ala “Minority Report,” […]

   • 2011 March 11, Aaron Blake, Chris Cillizza, “Palin: The GOP's Pelosi?”, in The Fix‎^[9], archived from the original on 24 June 2011:

     […] we might be getting to the point where Palin is a bona fide liability—ala Pelosi—for the GOP.

   • 2011 April 11, Charles Gasparino, “Duncan Niederauer Calling the Shots for NYSE Is Bad News for Shareholders”, in HuffPost‎^[10]:

     […] the NYSE didn't implode ala Merrill […]

• “ala”, in Merriam-Webster.com Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
• “ala”, in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th edition, Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin, 2000, →ISBN.
• “ala”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
• “ala” examples at Wordnik

• AAL, Aal, aal

Related to Saho aluula.

• IPA^(key): /ˈala/ [ˈʔʌlʌ]
• Hyphenation: a‧la

ála m (plural alluwwá f or alwá f)

1. animal, wild animal
2. European, white person (clarification of this definition is needed)

Declension of ála
absolutive	ála
predicative	ála
subjective	alí
genitive	alí
Postpositioned forms l-case álal k-case álak t-case álat h-case álah

Related to Somali hal.

• IPA^(key): /aˈla/ [ʔʌˈlʌ]
• Hyphenation: a‧la

alá f (masculine rakúb, plural aloolí f)

1. female camel, she-camel

Declension of alá
absolutive	alá
predicative	alá
subjective	alá
genitive	alá
Postpositioned forms l-case alál k-case alák t-case alát h-case aláh

• gaaláytu (“camel”)

• nargó (“baby female camel”)
• addó (“juvenile female camel”)
• erartó (“old female camel”)

• E. M. Parker; R. J. Hayward (1985), An Afar-English-French dictionary (with Grammatical Notes in English), University of London, →ISBN, page 37
• Mohamed Hassan Kamil (2004), Parlons Afar: Langue et Culture, L'Hammartan, →ISBN, page 24
• Mohamed Hassan Kamil (2015), L’afar: description grammaticale d’une langue couchitique (Djibouti, Erythrée et Ethiopie)‎^[11], Paris: Université Sorbonne Paris Cité (doctoral thesis)

From Latin āla (“wing”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈala/ [ˈa.la]
• Rhymes: -ala
• Syllabification: a‧la

ala f (plural ales)

1. wing
2. fin

   Synonym: aleta

• IPA^(key): /ɑˈɫɑ/

• Audio (Baku):

  (file)

From Proto-Turkic *āla.^[1]

ala (comparative daha ala, superlative ən ala)

1. variegated
2. (poetic) blue (of eyes)

   ala gözlər ― blue eyes

• ala-bula
• alagöz
• alagözlü
• qızılala

• → Armenian: ալա (ala)

ala (definite accusative alanı, plural alalar)

1. vitiligo (the patchy loss of skin pigmentation.)

Likely blend of ay +‎ bala.

ala

1. dude

   Ala, nə eləyirsən?! ― Dude, what are you doing?!

• ədə!
• az!

From Old Balinese hala, borrowed from Old Javanese ala, hala (“bad, evil”).

• IPA^(key): /a.lə/
• Rhymes: -alə
• Hyphenation: a‧la

ala (Balinese script ᬳᬮ)

1. bad, evil

• “Ala”, in Kamus Bahasa Bali—Indonesia dan Bahasa Indonesia-Bali‎^[12] (in Indonesian), Balai Bahasa Provinsi Bali, 19 June 2024 (last accessed)

ala

1. iroko (Milicia excelsa, syn. Chlorophora excelsa^[1][2])

Presumably from Proto-Basque *aLa.^[1]

• Audio:

  (file)

• IPA^(key): /ala/ [a.la]
• Rhymes: -ala, -a
• Hyphenation: a‧la

ala

1. or (exclusive)

The conjunction ala is an exclusive or, while edo is an inclusive or. For instance, while Sagarrak edo udareak nahi al dituzu? and Sagarrak ala udareak nahi dituzu? are both correct, the former asks in a yes or no question if you want apples, pears, apples and pears, or nothing; while the latter asks which one you want, the apples, or the pears.

From Latin āla (“wing”).

• IPA^(key): (Central, Balearic) [ˈa.lə]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [ˈa.la]

• Audio (Catalonia):

  (file)

• Homophone: hala

ala f (plural ales)

1. wing (appendage that enables flight)

• alat
• aleta
• aletejar

• alar

• “ala”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007
• “ala”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2026
• “ala” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• Alcover, Antoni Maria; Moll, Francesc de Borja (1963), “ala”, in Diccionari català-valencià-balear (in Catalan)

Borrowed from Spanish a la.

• IPA^(key): /ʔaˈla/ [ʔɐˈl̪a]
• Hyphenation: a‧la

alá (Badlit spelling ᜀᜎ)

1. o'clock

   Synonym: (besides one o'clock) alas

• IPA^(key): /ʔaˈlaʔ/ [ʔɐˈl̪aʔ]
• Hyphenation: a‧la

alâ (Badlit spelling ᜀᜎ)

1. to avoid engaging; to be prevented

• IPA^(key): /ˈʔalaʔ/ [ˈʔa.l̪ɐʔ]
• Hyphenation: a‧la

alà (Badlit spelling ᜀᜎ)

1. to misidentify

• John U. Wolff (1972), A dictionary of Cebuano Visayan‎^[13] (overall work in Cebuano and English), Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press

• IPA^(key): /aˈla/

ala (active, short verb)

1. (intransitive) to arrive, to come (I)
2. (intransitive) to be born (I)

   Synonym: atta

3. (intransitive) to be here, to get here (I)
4. (transitive) to come to, to arrive at (I;3)

This entry needs an inflection-table template.

ala

1. to fall (and end up resting on something)

• Clark, E. W. (1911), “ALA”, in Ao-Naga dictionary, Dimapur

From Proto-Finnic *ala.

ala (genitive ala, partitive ala)

1. area, territory, region

   Sellelt alalt on leitud palju rauda. ― A lot of iron has been found in this area.

2. (in working life, in sciences) field

   Ainuke ala, mis mind huvitab, on ajalugu. ― The only field which interests me is history.

3. (business) branch

Declension of ala (ÕS type 17u/sõna, no gradation)
		singular	plural
nominative		ala	alad
accusative	nom.
	gen.	ala
genitive			alade
partitive		ala	alu alasid
illative		alla alasse	aladesse alusse
inessive		alas	alades alus
elative		alast	aladest alust
allative		alale	aladele alule
adessive		alal	aladel alul
ablative		alalt	aladelt alult
translative		alaks	aladeks aluks
terminative		alani	aladeni
essive		alana	aladena
abessive		alata	aladeta
comitative		alaga	aladega

• “ala”, in [PSV] Eesti keele põhisõnavara sõnastik [Dictionary of Estonian Basic Vocabulary] (in Estonian) (online version, not updated), Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus (Estonian Language Foundation), 2014
• “ala”, in [EKSS] Eesti keele seletav sõnaraamat [Descriptive Dictionary of the Estonian Language] (in Estonian) (online version), Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus (Estonian Language Foundation), 2009
• “ala”, in [ÕS] Eesti õigekeelsussõnaraamat ÕS 2018 [Estonian Spelling Dictionary] (in Estonian) (online version), Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus (Estonian Language Foundation), 2018, →ISBN
• ala in Sõnaveeb (Eesti Keele Instituut)

From Old Norse ala, from Proto-Germanic *alaną (“to nourish, grow”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- (“to grow”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈɛaːla/
• Rhymes: -ɛaːla
• Homophones: æla, ælað

ala (third person singular past indicative ól, third person plural past indicative ólu, supine alið)

1. (kvæði) to give birth to
2. to foster
3. to nourish
4. to breed

From Proto-Finnic *ala; see ala- for more. Already in Finnic, this stem, originally meaning “lower, under” was repurposed as a noun meaning “underside, lower side”, whence “area”, whence the other senses like “domain”, “field”, “sector”.

• IPA^(key): /ˈɑlɑ/, [ˈɑ̝lɑ̝]
• Rhymes: -ɑlɑ
• Syllabification^(key): a‧la
• Hyphenation^(key): ala

ala

1. (mathematics) area (measure of the extent of a surface)

   Synonym: pinta-ala

2. area, field, domain (one's field of expertise or activity)
3. field, discipline (specific branch of knowledge, learning, or practice; e.g. in work or sciences)
4. industry, sector, branch (business, studies, etc.)
5. business (kind of commercial, industrial or professional activity)
6. (archaic) underside

• “ala”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎^[14] (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 1 July 2023

ala- +‎ -(k) (k-lative singular)

• IPA^(key): /ˈɑlɑˣ/, [ˈɑ̝lɑ̝(ʔ)]
• Rhymes: -ɑlɑ
• Syllabification^(key): a‧la
• Hyphenation^(key): ala

ala [with genitive] (dialectal)

1. (of motion) synonym of alle (“(to) under”)

Dialectal distribution of ala
Northern Satakunta (Pohjois-Satakunta) [Tavastian dialects] Karvia, Kihniö, Parkano Northern Tavastia (Pohjois-Häme) [Tavastian dialects] Virrat Southern Ostrobothnia (Etelä-Pohjanmaa) [South Ostrobothnian dialects] Alahärmä, Alavus, Ilmajoki, Isojoki, Isokyrö, Jalasjärvi, Jurva, Kauhajoki, Kauhava, Kuortane, Kurikka, Laihia, Lapua, Nurmo, Peräseinäjoki, Seinäjoki, Teuva, Töysä, Vähäkyrö, Ylihärmä Central Ostrobothnia (Keski-Pohjanmaa) [Central and North Ostrobothnian dialects] Himanka Northern Central Finland (Pohjoinen Keski-Suomi) [Savonian dialects] Hankasalmi, Karstula, Konginkangas, Konnevesi, Laukaa, Multia, Pihtipudas, Saarijärvi, Sumiainen, Uurainen, Äänekoski Western Central Finland (Läntinen Keski-Suomi) [Savonian dialects] Keuruu, Lehtimäki, Pihlajavesi, Ähtäri Southern Central Finland (Eteläinen Keski-Suomi) [Savonian dialects] Hartola, Joutsa, Jyväskylä, Korpilahti, Leivonmäki, Luhanka, Muurame, Pertunmaa, Petäjävesi Northern Savonia (Pohjois-Savo) [Savonian dialects] Haukivuori, Heinävesi, Jäppilä, Kaavi, Kangaslampi, Karttula, Leppävirta, Maaninka, Nilsiä, Pieksämäki, Pielavesi, Rantasalmi, Rautalampi, Siilinjärvi, Suonenjoki, Tervo, Tuusniemi, Vehmersalmi, Virtasalmi Southern Savonia (Etelä-Savo) [Savonian dialects] Hirvensalmi, Juva, Kangasniemi, Puumala, Ristiina, Sulkava, Sääminki Northern Karelia (Pohjois-Karjala) [Savonian dialects] Juuka, Kitee Central Karelia (Keski-Karjala) [Southeastern dialects] Gromovo (Sakkola), Melnikovskoye (Räisälä), Otradnoye (Pyhäjärvi (Vpl)), Sosnovo (Rautu) Southern Karelia (Etelä-Karjala) [Southeastern dialects] Joutseno, Kamennogorsk (Antrea), Lappee, Lemi, Lesogorsky (Jääski), Michurinskoye (Valkjärvi), Ozyorskoye (Vuoksenranta), Pervomayskoye (Kivennapa), Polyany (Uusikirkko (Vpl)), Pravdino (Muolaa), Primorsk (Koivisto), Rautjärvi, Ruokolahti, Savitaipale, Sovetsky (Johannes), Svobodnoye (Kirvu), Taipalsaari, Veshchevo (Heinjoki), Vuoksela, Vyborg (Viipuri), Yashino (Vahviala), Ylämaa, Zelenogorsk (Terijoki) Ingria (Inkeri) [Southeastern dialects] Dudergof (Tuutari/Tuuteri), Gubanitsy (Kupanitsa), Kobrino (Koprina), Moloskovitsy (Moloskovitsa), Shpankovo (Spankkova), Shundorovo (Hietamäki), Slavyanka (Venjoki), Yarvosol (Järvisaari) Värmland (Vermlanti) [Savonian dialects] Värmland (Vermlanti)
The classification of and data for regional dialects is based on pre-1950s data. Since the 1950s, the dialects have become increasingly mixed, levelled and influenced by Standard Finnish. Besides Standard Finnish, a relatively uniform and originally urban 'colloquial Finnish' is beginning to emerge in their place, especially in the cities. Source: Suomen murteiden sanakirja by Kotimaisten kielten keskus (CC BY 4.0); see the information for the background image for its sources and licensing

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

• IPA^(key): /ˈɑlɑˣ/, [ˈɑ̝lɑ̝(ʔ)]
• Rhymes: -ɑlɑ
• Syllabification^(key): a‧la
• Hyphenation^(key): ala

ala

1. inflection of alkaa:
   1. present active indicative connegative
   2. second-person singular present imperative
   3. second-person singular present active imperative connegative

ala (Valdôtain, Piemontais)

1. Alternative form of âla (“wing”) documented in the following location(s): Aosta, Arnad, Ayas, Aymavilles, Brusson, Challand-St-Anselme, Challand-St-Victor, Champorcher, Charvensod, Cogne, Courmayeur, Doues, Fontainemore, La Thuile, Montjovet, Morgex, Nus, Quart, St-Oyen, St-Rhémy-en-Bosses, St-Vincent, Valgrisenche, Valpelline; Giaglione

Learned borrowing from Latin āla. Compare the inherited á.

ala f (plural alas)

1. wing

   Synonym: á

• “ala”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2026

Inherited from Classical Latin āla, from earlier *axla, from axis, from Proto-Italic *aksis, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱs- (“axis”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈala/^[1]

ala f (plural ali)

1. wing

• IPA^(key): /ˈa.la/, [ˈɐ.lə]

From Proto-Polynesian *hala, from Proto-Oceanic *jalan, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *zalan, from Proto-Austronesian *zalan.

ala

1. way, path, road

   ala hoʻi ʻole mai

   a pathway with no return

ala

1. to waken
2. (stative) awake
3. to arise, rise up

   ala kūʻē

   to rise in revolt

• (rise): See Thesaurus:ala

• hoʻāla (“to awaken (sb.), incite, stir up”)
• hoʻoala (“to awaken (sb.)”)

ala

1. (rare) alternative form of ale (“to swallow”)

   Synonyms: alaō, alapoho

   Ua ala ka iʻa i ka makau.

   The fish swallows the hook whole.

ala

1. (demonstrative) variant of kēlā: that

kēlā and lā are more frequently used.

• Pukui, Mary Kawena; Elbert, Samuel H. (1986), “ala”, in Hawaiian Dictionary, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, →ISBN
• ala in Combined Hawaiian Dictionary, at trussel2.com.

ala

1. grandfather

• Philip Carr, Hoyahoya organised phonology data (2006)

• IPA^(key): /ˈaːla/
• Rhymes: -aːla

From Old Norse ala, from Proto-Germanic *alaną (“to nourish, grow”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- (“to grow”).

ala (strong verb, third-person singular past indicative ól, third-person plural past indicative ólu, supine alið)

1. to bear, give birth to [with accusative]
2. to foster [with accusative]
3. to feed, nourish [with accusative]

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

ala

1. indefinite genitive plural of alur

Compare with Ebira àra, probably from Idoma ala, displaced native àgwùtọ̀

• IPA^(key): /á.lá/

álá

1. sheep

   Synonym: (obsolete) àgwùtọ̀

2. (idiomatic, offensive) idiot, stupid person

   Synonyms: àgwùtọ̀, álá onẹ̀

• Ígáláà

• ànị̀ (Onicha)

From Proto-Igboid *ɛ́-làCḭ. Cognate with Ekpeye ɛ́lɛ̀, Ogbah àlɪ̀, Ezaa àlɪ̀, Izi àlɪ̀, Ukwuani-Aboh-Ndoni ànɪ̀, Ika àlɪ̀.^[1] Compare Proto-Yoruboid *á-lɛ̀, (Yoruba alẹ̀).

ala

1. earth, land, soil, ground.

• ala eze (“kingdom”)
• ala mmụọ (“spirit world”)
• Ọmenala

From Proto-Igboid [Term?]. Cognate with Ogbah ɛ́rã́, Ezaa ɛ́rá, Izi ɛ́rá, Ukwuani-Aboh-Ndoni ɛ́lá, Ika ɛ́rã́.^[1] Possibly cognate with Yoruba wàrà.

ala

1. breast
2. milk

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /ˈala/ [ˈa.la]
• Rhymes: -ala
• Syllabification: a‧la

From French à la, perhaps through English a la and the use got influenced by social media and popular culture (especially in culinary).

ala

1. (colloquial) a la, in the style or manner of

   Near-synonyms: secara, semodel, khas

Inherited from Malay ala (“high”), from Arabic عَلَى (ʕalā).

ala (comparative lebih ala, superlative paling ala)

1. (rare) exalted, high

   Synonym: tinggi

From Arabic عَلَى (ʕalā).

ala

1. (law) land, with the owner or descendants still have the main rights in that land

Borrowed from Balinese [Term?].

ala (plural ala-ala)

1. (chiefly dialectal) outrigger

   Synonym: cadik

Learned borrowing from Latin āla (“wing”).

ala (plural ala-ala)

1. (anatomy, botany) ala
   1. (anatomy) a wing or winglike anatomic process or part, especially of bone.
   2. (botany) the flattened border of some stems, fruits, and seeds, or one of the two side petals of certain flowers in the pea family.

Unknown, probably Masiwang [Term?].

ala (plural ala-ala)

1. small rivers flowing into the sea

• “ala”, in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia [Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016

• IPA^(key): /ˈalˠə/

ala

1. Only used in phrases; see Derived terms below

• ar ala na huaire (“on the spur of the moment; within a second”)
• gach ala (“every now and then”)

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977), “ala”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla [Irish–English Dictionary], Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN

From Latin āla.

ala f

1. wing

• Antonio Pellizzer; Giovanni Pellizzer (1992), Vocabulario del dialetto di Rovigno d'Istria, page 40
• Sandro Cergna (2015), Vocabolario del dialetto di Valle d'Istria, →ISBN, page 22

• IPA^(key): /ˈa.la/
• Rhymes: -ala
• Hyphenation: à‧la

From Latin āla.

ala f (plural ali or (archaic or poetic) ale)

1. wing

   Synonym: alia (archaic; slang)

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

ala

1. inflection of alare:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *hulaʀ, from Proto-Austronesian *Sulaʀ.

ala (classifier drơi)

1. snake

ala

1. romanization of ꦲꦭ

• la (text messaging)

From Proto-Central Philippine *wadaq, from Proto-Philippine *wada (“to be, exist”), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wada.

• IPA^(key): /əˈlaʔ/ [əˈlaʔ]
• Hyphenation: a‧la

alâ

1. nothing; no one; none; nonexistent; zero

   Synonyms: e, emiki-, emika-

2. missing; absent; gone; lost

   Synonyms: liban, bating, lili

3. free (from); lacking; without

   Synonyms: ligtas, kulang

4. (by extension) broken up (in a relationship)

   Synonym: mikawani

   Alanalu.

   They are not together anymore.

5. (euphemistic) dead

   Synonyms: mete, mangubie, meyapas, mepulid, mitda

From a +‎ la.

ala

1. at or to the (+ feminine singular noun)

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ˈaː.ɫa]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈaː.la]

For earlier *axla, from axis, from Proto-Italic *aksis, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱs- (“axis”).^[1]

āla f (genitive ālae); first declension

1. a wing (appendage of an animal's body that enables it to fly)
2. (anatomy) the armpit (the upper and under part of the arm, where it unites with the shoulder)
3. (of an animal) shoulder blade, axilla (the hollow where the foreleg is joined to the shoulder)
4. (of a plant) the hollow where a limb joins the trunk of a tree
5. (architecture) wings, side halls or porches, waiting areas, colonnades, side apartments (side rooms off the main room, the side apartments on the right and left of a court)
6. (military) a wing (portion of an army, cavalry force (usually) deployed on an army's flank)
7. (transferred) wings (the members of a group placed along the perimeter)
   • 29 BCE – 19 BCE, Vergilius, Aeneis 4.121:

     “[...] dum trepidant ālae, saltūsque indāgine cingunt, [...].”

     “[At the hunting party of Dido and Aeneas], while the beaters rush about, and encircle forest glades with net[s], [...].”
     (Understood here as the beaters, mounted or on foot, who flush the prey and drive it toward the hunters.)

First-declension noun.

āla

1. nominative/accusative/vocative plural of ālum

• ala in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• ala in Charlton T. Lewis (1891), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• "ala", in Charles du Fresne du Cange, Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
• ala in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898), Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
• ala in William Smith et al., editor (1890), A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin

The usual theory considers ala to be borrowed from Middle Low German hol (“depth, hole, cave”), from Old Saxon hol, or maybe from the same form in Middle Dutch or German Low German (East Frisian); cf. German Höhle (“cave”), all from Proto-West Germanic *hol.

A different view suggests that ala could also be a reflex of an old Proto-Indo-European stem *h₁el-, *ol-, *al- (“to flow, to drain”) with various Baltic reflexes: dialectal alots, alogs, standard avots (“(water) source”), alksna, aluksna (“miry, swampy place”) (cf. place names like Alūksne, Alūkstes), Lithuanian alė́ti (“to flow, to drip”). The original meaning of ala would thus have been “(water) source”, from which “place (e.g., cave, rift, pit) from which water springs,” and finally simply “cave,” possibly under the influence of the aforementioned Germanic words.^[1]

• IPA^(key): [ala]

• Audio:

  (file)

ala f (4th declension)

1. cave (space or cavity formed underground, especially between rocks, or in the face of a cliff or hillside)

   klinšu alas ― rock caves

   pazemes ala ― subterranean cave

   alu labirinti ― cave labyrinths

   alu cilvēks ― caveman

   alu zīmējumi ― cave drawings, paintings

   Abhāzijā atrodas ala, kuras labirinti ir vairāk nekā trīs kilometrus gari ― in Abkhazia there is a cave with labyrinths longer than three kilometers

2. burrow, hole, lair, den (the dwelling of some animals, in the form of a cavity with one or many exits)

   peles, lapsas alas ― mice, fox holes

   āpšu, trušu alas ― badger, rabbit holes, burrows

   rakt alu ― to dig a hole, burrow

   nekā sevišķa tur neredzēja, izņemot nelielu caurumu zemē... likās tā kā kurmja ala ― there was nothing special to see there, except a small whole on the ground... it seemed to be a molehill (lit. hole)

• alu cilvēks

• speleoloģija

ala

1. Latin spelling of ალა (ala)

• IPA^(key): /ˈala/, [ˈa.la]
• Hyphenation: a‧la

ala (Lontara spelling ᨕᨒ)

1. perhaps; maybe; approximately

   Ala bajiki niapa?

   What should perhaps be done to it?

   Ala apami lakukana?

   What should I perhaps say?

   Ala siapa are jaina tau battu

   Approximately how many people came.

2. if; in case; supposing

   Bellai ri nakke ala angkanaya « sukkukmi parekna »

   I am still far off if saying "its creation is perfect".

   Ala tamangenu anjoreng, teatongko maeì

   If you do not want to go there, do not come here either.

3. let alone; much less; especially

   Ri lino kutamateʼne, ala ri anjapa sallang

   In the world alone I am not happy, much less in the hereafter later.

   Inakke kiatài ala parentakupa seng takianuang

   I myself am made a servant by you, let alone my territories that you do not possess.

   Ala iamamo seng kagauʼ nyamanduduja

   Especially just a very comfortable job.

   Ala ikattemamo seng niaka paarenganta

   Especially you who also have a position.

4. should; had better; fittingly

   Kelong: daeng leʼ paʼboyatommaʼ, baine kontu ikau, punna taena, ala bajiʼ taikau

   Poem: dear older brother, find me a wife like you, if there is none, should it not be you yourself.

   Ala nasareatodong andiʼna

   He should also give to his younger sibling.

   Punna tanakullemo nabayaraʼ, ala bajiʼ takalenna kusuro-eranngangi karaenga

   If he can no longer pay, had better I myself order him brought to the king.

   Ala ikaumo ʼlampa punna tèai

   You had better go if he does not want to.

5. whether...or...

   Ala ri nakke ala ri kau

   Whether to me or to you.

   Ala lompo ala caʼdi

   Whether big or small.

   Ala buraʼne ala baine

   Whether male or female.

   Tenamo tau bajiʼ ampatta-pattaui ala bijanna, ala belana apapa ia tau maraenga

   There are no longer good people who reprimand him, whether his family, or his relatives, let alone other people.

6. than; compared to

   Bajikanngangkiʼ aʼlampa kipatilampa-lampài ala ammotereka

   It is better we go even if we get lost, than return.

   Laʼbiranngangi appainranga ala assarea

   It is better to lend than to give.

• Cense, A. A. (1979), Makassaars-Nederlands woordenboek [Makasar-Dutch dictionary], 's-Gravenhage: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN

• IPA^(key): /ˈa.la/, [ˈa.lə̥]

• Audio:

  (file)

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *halas, from Proto-Austronesian *Salas. Cognate with Balinese alas, Javanese ꦲꦭꦱ꧀ (alas).

ala

1. forest

From Proto-Austronesian *alaq (“fetch; get; take”).

ala

1. without; freed from; removed from

• Rhymes: -alə

ala (Jawi spelling الا or على)

1. like
2. according to
3. on

• “ala”, in Kamus Dewan [The Institute Dictionary] (in Malay), Fourth edition, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2005, →ISBN

• "ala" in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu (PRPM) [Malay Literary Reference Centre (PRPM)] (in Malay), Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017

ala f (plural alas)

1. wing
2. (nautical) sail

ala

1. mistake

• Heather and Don Mc Lean, North Wahgi (Yu We) Organised Phonology Data (2005), p. 2

Seemingly recently borrowed from Central Kurdish ئاڵا (alla); ultimate origin uncertain. Perhaps derived from al (“side”), or a reflection of Arabic علامة or Turkic al (“red”).

• IPA^(key): /ɑːˈlɑː/

Northern Kurdish	ala
Central Kurdish	ئاڵا (alla)

ala m (Arabic spelling ئالا)

1. flag, banner, standard

Often times confused to be al instead of ala by Northern Kurdish speakers, because the word is feminine and the feminine Izafe marker is -a-.

• Chyet, Michael L. (2020), “ala”, in Ferhenga Birûskî: Kurmanji–English Dictionary (Language Series; 1), volume 1, London: Transnational Press, page 5

-ála

1. to refuse

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

From Proto-Samic *ëlëk.

• (Kautokeino) IPA^(key): /ˈala/

ala

1. over
2. on, on top

• alcces-, alcce-, allas- (locative stems of ieš (“self”))

ala

1. over
2. on, onto, on top of

• Eino Koponen, Klaas Ruppel, Kirsti Aapala, editors (2002–2008), Álgu database: Etymological database of the Saami languages‎^[15], Helsinki: Research Institute for the Languages of Finland

From Old Norse ala, from Proto-Germanic *alaną, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂életi.

• ale (e infinitive)
• ålå (dialectal)

ala (present tense aler or el, past tense alte or ol, past participle alt or ale, present participle alande, imperative al)

1. to foster

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

ala

1. definite plural of al

• “ala” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

From Latin āla.

• IPA^(key): [alo̞]
• (Niçard) IPA^(key): [ˈa.la]

• Audio (Béarn):

  (file)

ala f (plural alas)

1. wing

āla

1. genitive plural of āl

From Proto-West Germanic *ālu. Cognates include Old English æl and Old Norse alr.

āla f

1. awl

• German: Ahle

From Proto-Germanic *alaną (“to nourish, grow”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂életi, from *h₂el- (“to raise, feed, nourish”). Cognate with Old English alan and Latin alō.

ala (singular present indicative elr, singular past indicative ól, plural past indicative ólu, past participle alinn)

1. to produce
2. to testify
3. to breed
4. to nourish

• Icelandic: ala
• Faroese: ala
• Norwegian Nynorsk: ala
• Norwegian Bokmål: ale
• Old Swedish: ala
  • Swedish: uppala
• Old Danish: alæ
• Old Gutnish: ala

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

ala

1. indefinite genitive plural of alr

• Zoëga, Geir T. (1910), “ala”, in A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, Oxford: Clarendon Press; also available at the Internet Archive

• IPA^(key): /ˈala/

From Latin āla.

ala f (plural alas)

1. wing (limb)
   • c. 1200, Almeric, Fazienda de Ultramar, f. 67v. a:

     la p̃mera ſemeiaua leon e auie alas de aguila ueye q̃ meſauan ſus alas e cayen atierra e ſobre ſos piedes como om̃e se leuãtaua

     The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I saw its wings torn off and fall to the ground so that it stood on its feet like a man.

• Ladino: ala (Latin spelling)
• Spanish: ala

A contraction of a (“to, toward, in, at”) + la (“the”); the feminine singular definite article.

ala (plural alas)

1. (followed by a singular feminine noun) to the, toward the
   • c. 1200, Almeric, Fazienda de Ultramar, f. 2v. b.

     Loth ouo miedo de ſeer en segor esubio alas mõtãnas cõ sus .ij. fijas. estido ẽ una cueua cõ sus .ij. fijas. edixo la maior ala menor. nr̃o padre es uyeio eno nos podremos caſar. com es derecho.

     [Loth ovo miedo de seer en segor, esubió a las montañas con sus duas fujas. Estido en una cueva con sus duas fijas. E dixo la mayor a la menor: "nuestro padre es viejo e non nos podremos casar, com es derecho".]

     Lot was afraid to stay in Zoar, so he moved to the mountains with his two daughters. There he lived in a cave with his two daughters; then the elder [daughter] said to the younger: "Our father is old, and [here] we cannot marry as is the custom."

2. (followed by a singular feminine noun) in the, at the
   • c. 1200, Almeric, Fazienda de Ultramar, f. 2v. a:

     eſtos angeles cõ q̃ fablo abraã. vinieron a ſodoma e loth ſedia ala puerta de la cibdat. e violos & leuãtos cõtra ellõ.

     [Estos ángeles con que fabló Abraam vinieron a Sodoma e Lot sedía a la puerta de la cibdat. E vio-los e levantó-s contra ellos.]

     These angels to whom Abraham spoke came to Sodom, and Lot was sitting at the gateway of the city. And he saw them and got up to meet them.

• al

• IPA^(key): [ʔala]

  • Audio:

    (file)

ala

1. then

   Ma ‘Djawa’-si, ala de ma ‘Dudi’.

   ‘Djawa’ first, and then ‘Dudi’.

• Perangin Angin, Dalan Mehuli (2023), Kamus Pagu-Indonesia-Inggris, Jakarta: Penerbit BRIN

• hala (alternative spelling)

From Portuguese ala and Spanish ala.

ala

1. wing

Learned borrowing from Latin āla.

• IPA^(key): /ˈa.la/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ala
• Syllabification: a‧la
• Homophone: Ala

ala f

1. (historical, Ancient Rome) ala (Roman allied military unit)

• “ala”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎^[16] (in Polish)

• Audio (Brazil (Caipira)):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -alɐ
• Hyphenation: a‧la

Learned borrowing from Latin āla. Compare the inherited doublet á.

ala f (plural alas)

1. a flank
   1. (military) a flank unit
   2. (sports) wing (position on either side of the field)
2. (chiefly politics) faction (ideologically distinct group within an organisation)
3. a row among a larger group of people or things
   1. (military) a rank or file of soldiers
   2. (Brazil) a subdivision of a carnival block consisting of similarly themed participants
4. (architecture) wing (part of a building that extends from the main structure)
5. (chess) each player’s half of the chessboard
6. (dated) wing (part of an animal)

ala m or f by sense (plural alas)

1. (sports) wing; winger (player in a wing position)
2. (aviation) wingman (support pilot in a squadron)

• alado
• alar

ala!

1. out! (demanding that someone leave)

   Synonym: fora

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

ala

1. inflection of alar:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative

• “ala”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026
• “ala”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

From Proto-Polynesian *hala, from Proto-Oceanic *jalan, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *zalan, from Proto-Austronesian *zalan.

ala

1. path, way, lane, track

• Te Pukamuna | Pukapuka Dictionary

From Proto-Chamic *ʔular, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *hulaʀ, from Proto-Austronesian *Sulaʀ.

• IPA^(key): /alaa/, [ʔəlaa]

ala

1. snake

• ela (Puter)

From Latin āla.

ala f (plural alas)

1. (Rumantsch Grischun, Sursilvan, Sutsilvan, Surmiran, Vallader) wing
2. mouldboard

• IPA^(key): /ˈala/^[1]

ala f (plural ali)

1. (dialectal) alternative form of ara (“wing”)

Possibly related to Polish ale. In that case, inherited from Proto-Slavic *ale.

• IPA^(key): /ǎla/

àla (Cyrillic spelling а̀ла)

1. (used for emphasis, or as an intensifier) expression of awe, surprise, dismay, etc.

   Ala je bilo lijepo! ― It sure was nice!

   Ala lažeš! ― Oh, you're lying!

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish آلا (ala, “spotted, variegated”).

• hala

• IPA^(key): /ǎːla/, /ǎla/, /âla/

ála or àla or ȁla (Cyrillic spelling а́ла or а̀ла or а̏ла, indeclinable)

1. piebald, spotted

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *xala, unless borrowed from Ottoman Turkish آلا (ala, “spotted, variegated”), euphemistic for a snake.

• hala

• IPA^(key): /ǎːla/, /ǎla/, /âla/

ála or àla or ȁla f (Cyrillic spelling а́ла or а̀ла or а̏ла)

1. dragon

• Knüppel, Michael (2009), “Zu serbo-kroatisch hȁla ∼ ȁla ‘Drache’”, in Wiener Slavistisches Jahrbuch‎^[17] (in German), volume 55, pages 179–183

Inherited from Latin āla.

ala f (plural ali)

1. wing

• Traina, Antonino (1868), “ala”, in Nuovo vocabolario Siciliano-Italiano [New Sicilian-Italian vocabulary] (in Italian), Liber Liber, published 2020, page 179

-ála

1. to refuse

This noun needs an inflection-table template.

• IPA^(key): /ˈala/ [ˈa.la]
• Rhymes: -ala
• Syllabification: a‧la
• Homophone: hala

From Old Spanish ala (compare Ladino ala), from Latin āla.

ala f (plural alas)

1. wing (of a bird or insect)

   El pájaro tiene un ala herida. ― The bird has an injured wing.

2. wing (of an aircraft)

   El avión perdió un ala durante el vuelo. ― The plane lost a wing during the flight.

3. brim (of a hat)
4. (military) flank (of a formation)
5. (sports) wing (part of the field)
6. (in the plural) flip, wings (hairstyle)

ala m or f by sense (plural alas)

1. (sports) winger

• Before feminine nouns beginning with stressed /ˈa/ like ala, the singular definite article takes the form of el (otherwise reserved for masculine nouns) instead of the usual la: el ala. This includes the contracted forms al and del (instead of a la and de la, respectively): al ala, del ala.

This also applies to the indefinite article, which takes the form of un, which is otherwise used with masculine nouns (although the standard feminine form una also occurs): un ala or una ala. The same is true with determiners algún/alguna and ningún/ninguna, as well as for numerals ending with 1 (e.g., veintiún/veintiuna).

However, if another word intervenes between the article and the noun, the usual feminine singular articles and determiners (la, una etc.) are used: la mejor ala, una buena ala.

• In these cases, el and un are not masculine but feminine, deriving from Latin illa and una, respectively, even though they are identical in form to the corresponding masculine singular articles. Thus, they are allomorphs of the feminine singular articles la and una.
• The use of these allomorphs does not change the gender agreement of the adjectives modifying the feminine noun: el ala única, un(a) ala buena.
• In the plural, the usual feminine plural articles and determiners (las, unas, etc.) are always used.

ala

1. alternative spelling of hala

Univerbation of a +‎ la.

ala

1. (nonstandard) to the (feminine)

• “ala”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

• IPA^(key): /ala/, [a̠la̠], [ɑ̟lɑ̟]

ala

1. everything

ala

1. every; all

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ala (“take, get, fetch; marry”)

ala (Sundanese script ᮃᮜ, active ngala, passive diala)

1. to take, to fetch

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Borrowed from Arabic آلَة (ʔāla).^[1]

ala class IX (plural ala class X)

1. tool, instrument

   Synonym: kifaa

2. sheath, scabbard

Borrowed from Arabic [Term?].

ala

1. Used to express surprise or shock: oh! is that so?

   Synonym: ama

-ála

1. to refuse

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ʔaˈla/ [ʔɐˈla]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: a‧la
• Homophone: Ala

alá (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜎ) (dialectal)

1. expressing negation or disapproval, or sometimes agreement, depending on the tenor of expression

Borrowed from Spanish ala, from Latin āla.

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈʔala/ [ˈʔaː.lɐ]
• Rhymes: -ala
• Syllabification: a‧la

ala (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜎ)

1. (zootomy, uncommon) wing

   Synonyms: pakpak, bagwis

2. (carpentry) table flap (hinged leaf)
3. (carpentry) doorleaf
4. (architecture) extension of building sideways

Apheresis of wala.

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ʔaˈlaʔ/ [ʔɐˈlaʔ]
• Rhymes: -aʔ
• Syllabification: a‧la

alâ (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜎ)

1. alternative form of wala

alâ (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜎ)

1. alternative form of wala

Borrowed from Spanish a la.

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ʔaˈla/ [ʔɐˈla]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: a‧la
• Homophone: Ala

alá (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜎ)

1. o'clock

   Synonym: (besides one o' clock) alas

• Used only for one o' clock.

• “ala”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, 2018
• Cuadrado Muñiz, Adolfo (1972), Hispanismos en el tagalo: diccionario de vocablos de origen español vigentes en esta lengua filipina, Madrid: Oficina de Educación Iberoamericana, page 20

• IPA^(key): [ˈa.la]
• Hyphenation: a‧la

From Proto-Polynesian *hala. Cognates include Hawaiian ala and Samoan ala.

ala

1. path, road
2. reason, cause
3. method, way
4. transport
5. working section of a mat
6. (euphemistic) rectum

ala

1. (transitive) to result from

From Proto-Polynesian *qara. Cognates include Hawaiian ala and Samoan ala.

ala (plural feala)

1. (stative) to be awake
2. (stative) to be accurate
3. (stative) to be sharp
4. (stative, of watercraft) to be close to the wind

• R. Simona, editor (1986), Tokelau Dictionary‎^[18], Auckland: Office of Tokelau Affairs, page 11

• IPA^(key): /ɑˈɫɑ/
• Hyphenation: a‧la

• Audio:

  (file)

Inherited from Ottoman Turkish آلا (ala), from Proto-Turkic *āla (“variegated”).^[1] Doublet of ela.

ala

1. multicolored, pied, variegated
2. clipping of alabalık (“trout”)

ala

1. misspelling of âlâ

• âlâ

• Redhouse, James W. (1890), “آلا”, in A Turkish and English Lexicon‎^[19], Constantinople: A. H. Boyajian, page 179

From earlier *lala via dissimilation (compare Muduapa lala), from Proto-Oceanic *kilala via truncation, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kilala, from Proto-Austronesian *kilala.

• IPA^(key): /ala/

ala

1. to know

• Terry Crowley et al, The Oceanic Languages (2013), page 366

Related to Finnish älä.

ala

1. second-person singular imperative of ei
2. do not

-âla

1. to refuse

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

ala

1. drink

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

• IPA^(key): /à.là/

àlà

1. purity, white cloth, a symbol of the god Ọbàtálá

   Synonym: ẹfun

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) +‎ lá (“to dream”).

• IPA^(key): /à.lá/

àlá

1. dream, vision

Yoruba varieties and languages: àlá (“dream”)
view map; edit data
Language family	Variety group	Variety/language	Subdialect	Location	Words
Proto-Itsekiri-SEY	Southeast Yoruba	Eastern Àkókó	Ọ̀bà	Ọ̀bà Àkókó	ẹ̀lá
		Ìkálẹ̀ (Ùkálẹ̀)			ọ̀lá
			Òkìtìpupa		ọ̀lá
		Oǹdó			ọ̀lá
			Oǹdó		ọ̀lá
		Usẹn			àlá
			Usẹn		àlá
	Ìtsẹkírì				ọlá
		Ìwẹrẹ			ọlá
	Olùkùmi				ẹ̀lá
		Ugbódù			ẹ̀lá
Proto-Yoruba	Central Yoruba	Èkìtì	Èkìtì	Ìfàkì Èkìtì	àlá, ị̀lá
			Àkúrẹ́	Àkúrẹ́	àlá
	Northwest Yoruba	Èkó			àlá
			Èkó		àlá
		Ìbàdàn			àlá
			Ìbàdàn		àlá
		Ìlọrin			àlá
			Ìlọrin		àlá
		Ọ̀yọ́			àlá
			Ọ̀yọ́		àlá
			Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ (Ògbómọ̀sọ́)		àlá
			Ìkirè		àlá
			Ìwó		àlá
		Standard Yorùbá	Nàìjíríà		àlá
	Northeast Yoruba/Okun	Owé			àlà
			Kabba		àlà
	Ede languages/Southwest Yoruba	Ifɛ̀	Akpáré		àlá
			Atakpamɛ		àlá
			Est-Mono		àlá
			Tchetti (Tsɛti, Cɛti)		àlá
Note: This amalgamation of terms comes from a number of different academic papers focused on the unique varieties and languages spoken in the Yoruboid dialectal continuum which extends from eastern Togo to southern Nigeria. The terms for spoken varieties, now deemed dialects of Yorùbá in Nigeria (i.e. Southeast Yorùbá, Northwest Yorùbá, Central Yorùbá, and Northeast Yorùbá), have converged with those of Standard Yorùbá leading to the creation of what can be labeled Common Yorùbá (Funṣọ Akere, 1977). It can be assumed that the Standard Yorùbá term can also be used in most Nigerian varieties alongside native terms, especially amongst younger speakers. This does not apply to the other Nigerian Yoruboid languages of Ìṣẹkírì and Olùkùmi, nor the Èdè Languages of Benin and Togo.

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

-âla

1. to deny, refuse, decline
2. to forbid
3. to reject
4. to refuse give [with na-]
5. to hate, detest

• -alela (applicative)
• -alisa (causative)
• -alayala (diminutive)
• -alisisa (intensive)
• -aleka (neuter-passive)
• -aliwa (passive)
• -alana (reciprocal)

• The template Template:R:zu:ZED does not use the parameter(s):

  imprtone2=6-3.9

imprtone=6.3 Please see Module:checkparams for help with this warning.C. M. Doke; B. W. Vilakazi (1972), “ala”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “ala”